Art History Presentation

Vincent Van Gogh

Early Life
- Born on March 30, 1853 in Groot-Zundert, Netherlands.
- His father was a minister and his mother was an artist.
- He was born a year after his brother (Vincent) was stillborn.
- He was made to leave school at the age of 15 to work at his uncles art gallery
to help support his family.

Religion
-

In 1873, he moved to London and started working a gallery there.

He became infatuated with English culture.

He fell in love with Eugenie Loyer, who rejected him.

Van Gogh broke down mentally,threw all his books out aside from the Bible, and
became a religious zealot. He got fired from his job for warding customers away from
worthless art.

He began teaching a Methodist boys school, but also preached. He wanted to become
a minister, but refused to take the Latin exams, calling it a dead language for poor
people.

Van Gogh moved to a coal mine in Belgium, notorious for being where preachers were
sent to be punished. There, he began to help the sick and poor. The church didnt like
how his life was becoming more maetyrlike, so they kicked him out.

Beginning Art
- Vincent moved to Brussels in 1880. He decided to become an artist, and his
brother Theo, who owned an art gallery, helped his finances.
- He fell in love with a prostitute named Clasina Maria Hoornik. She went back
to prostitution, devastating van Gogh.
- His family forced him to break up with her, or else they would cut him off
financially.
- Vincent roamed the Netherlands, painting landscapes and people, for about 6
months.

The Decline
- In 1885, he created Potato Eaters, considered to be his first masterpiece.
- In 1886, Vincent moved in with his brother Theo, in Paris.
- Vincent became inspired by impressionist art. He was known for bickering
with artists about their own art.
- He also was inspired by Japanese art and philosophy. He wanted to move to
Japan, but was told by a friend that the light in Arles was like the light in
Japan.
- In 1888, he moved to Arles, France.
- He spent most of his money on paint, rather than food. He subsisted on
bread, coffee, and absinthe.

The Further Decline

- Theo offered Paul Gauguin money to watch over Vincent. The two constantly
argued, until Gaugin gave up. He saw Vincent holding a razor as he left.
- Vincent went to the local brothel, paid for a prostitute, cut his ear off, handed it
to her, and asked her to keep this object carefully.
- He was taken to a hospital, recovered, and was released in 1889.
- He was severely depressed, and painting didnt help him as it used to. He
decided to paint during the day and go to the hospital at night.
- The town of Arles signed a petition, stating that Vincent was a danger to the
town. He moved into an asylum, where he continued painting.
- In 1890, Dr. Paul Gachet decided to take Vincent on as a patient. Vincent

End of Life
- His brother Theo visited him, and told Vincent that he needed to handle his
money better. Vincent took this as an indication that he didnt want to sell his
art anymore.
- Vincent went to paint in the morning, as he always had, but also took a pistol.
He shot himself in the chest, which injured, but did not kill him.
- Theo visited van Gogh in the hospital, where they talked extensively. Vincent
died in his brothers arms on July 29, 1890.

Legacy
- Theos wife, Johanna, loved van Goghs art, and collected as much of it as
she could.
- Many of his paintings were shown at a show in Paris in 1901. This helped his
name spread.
- Today, Vincent van Gogh is hailed as one of the greatest artists of all time.